VICKI BLAKLEY|Daily Enterprise Harlan pitcher Madison Noe threw to first base after fielding a ground ball during a 4-3 loss to Middlesboro on Friday.

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Harlan’s second district contest looked a lot like its first. After nearly digging themselves out of an early deficit in a one-run loss to Bell County on Monday, the Harlan Lady Dragons’ rallied again on Friday before falling 4-3 to the visiting Middlesboro Lady Jackets.

The Lady Dragons fell behind by four runs in the first inning.

Middlesboro’s Taylor reached base on an error. Kelsie Hensley followed by reaching on an error. Lauren Spurlock drew a walk to load the bases. Prater and Hensley both scored when Carissa Padgett advance to first on an error in the outfield. Savanna Miracle drove in Spurlock with a single. Durham later scored the final run of the inning.

“The first inning was the difference in the game. We had three youthful errors, that we are unfortunately still making,” said Harlan coach Scott Lewis. “We settled down after the first and the girls got their feet under them a little bit.”

Harlan made it 4-1 with a run in the third inning.

Shanae Thomas reached base on a single. Thomas stole second and scored on a double from Anna Karst.

The Lady Dragons closed to within one with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Madison Noe started the offense witha single. Karst followed with her second hit of the day. Noe and Karst both scored when Torri Mitchell reached on a throwing error to first. However, that was as close as the Lady Dragons got, and Middlesboro held on for the win.

Karst had a double and a single to pace the Lady Dragons at the plate. Noe, Thomas and Heather Holland each added a single.

Mircale delivered a pair of singles to power Middlesboro. Prater, Partin and Padgette each added a single.

Partin recorded nine strikeouts, while allowing five hits in the complete-game victory on the mound. Noe struck out four batters in a complete-game effort for the Lady Dragons.

Harlan (5-5) returns to action today at home against Letcher Central, while Middlesboro (7-1) will host Clay County.

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Middlesboro 400 000 0 — 4 5 2

Harlan 001 002 0 — 3 5 7

Partin and Durham; Noe and Jenkins. WP — Partin. LP — Noe.